Splash guard holder for vehicle fenders



March 7, 1933- w. R. CHESLEY SPLASH GUARD HOLDER FOR VEHICLE FENDERS Filed May 25, 1951 Patented Mar. 7, 1933 s'r- TEs PAT T- relics.

WALTER n. oHEsLnY, or SOMERVILLE, 'MASSACHUSE'ITS, ASSIGNOR 'rornitsoivsi MAJEESTIC r-rnnnrno'rnnine COMPANY, or wononsrnn, amsseonnsnrrs, A con- POBATEQN OF MASSACHUSETTS SPLASH GUARD HOLDER- FOR VEHICLE FENDERS Application filed May '25,

The present invention relates. to splash guards or shields that are adapted'to be attached to the rear fenders of motor vehicles so as to protect the rear portion of the vehicle from material thrown up by the wheels,-when .an improved holder for splash guardsthat cooperates with the downwardly extending flanges of a vehicle fender in such a manner that a given holder will fit'many different widths of fenders without requiring any adju ient. Furthermore, the improved holdor is adapted to be attached to or removed from a vehicle fender without requiring the use of any tools, so that its many advantages over other types of holders are readily apparent. The above and other advantageous features of the invention will hereinafter more fully appear from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which 1 Fig. 1 is a View in sideelevation of the wheel of a motor vehiclehaving its overhanding fender equipped with a splash guard embodying the invention; V

Fig. 2 is a view inendelevationof the parts shown in Fig. 1 as viewed from the right. i

3 is a-plan view of theholder shown in Fig.2, removed from the fender, the parts I being on enlarged scale.

Fig. 4: is view in front elevation of the holder shown in Fig. 3, having a flap orapron carried thereby. o r. I I

5 is a horizontal sectional view along the line 5, 5 of Fig. 2. showing on an'enlarged scale the cooperation of the holder'with the fender flanges.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, sh owing the cooperation of the holder with the flanges of a fender of greater width than the holder shown in Fig. 5. V

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the flange engaging clips shown'in Fig. 3.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different figures. I

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, a portion of the rear fender 1 .of'a motor vehicle is shown in its usual relation :to a portionof the 1 192.1. Serial No. 539,851

wheel 2 which thefender 1 partially encircles.

The fender 1 provides opposed downwardly extending parallel flanges, 3, 3 bounding the curved body portion or crown 4,? and since the distance between the flanges 3 varies with different widths'o-f fenders, the present invention contemplates the provision of a holdor 5 that is adapted to support a suitable splash guard flap or apron 6 from a'fender 1 having the width shown in Fig. 2, or from other fenders of different widths, within the range of extensibility of the holder.

Referring now to" Figs. 3 and4, the holder 5 "comprises a pair of identicalU-shaped clips 7, 7 eachhaving'a clamping leverv 8pivotally associated therewith, with the projectingends of the levers 8, 8 secured to the ends'of a coil spring 9. 1

As best shown in Fig. 7, each lever 8 passes freely through a slot 10 provided in oneside of the clip 7, the lever terminating ina head '11 beyond theother side of the slot 10"with anofiset portion 12 between'the lever and the head 11;. Consequently, when thelever 8 is I inserted through the slot 10,the head' 11 can'- not pass through and the ,whole lever tends to pivot onfone edge of'the slot 10 in response toa 'forceapplied its free end where the spring 9 is attached. As previously'pointed out-,the clips 7 are identical, and in assemblingthe holder the levers 8 are in opposed 1 relation so thatthey tend to turn inoppOsite directions with reference t'o'the ends ofthe V spring9;

, When a is desired to attach a holder 5&0 a

fender 1, one clip? is positionedto embrace a I fender'fiange 3 and while maintaining this clip in position,- the other clip is similarly en gaged with the opposite fender flange, Due

to the pivotal mounting of such lever 8, it isj-a as shown in Fig. 5 the pressure ofthe head 11 increasing asthe pull onthe lever 8 is increased. Furthermore,in moving the other j 3 7 clip to embrace the opposite fender flange,

the spring!) is stretched to some extent "so that when the second clip has been attached the pull of the extended spring 9 tends to turn both levers 8 in opposite directions so as to hold the heads 11 in clamping engagement with the flanges 3, as shown in Fig. 5. In Fig. 6 the two clips 7 and the attached spring 9 are shown as applied to the flanges 3a of a tender 1a having a greater width than the tender 1, in which case the spring 9 is dis tended to take care of the increased distance between the flanges. Obviously, the holder will be equally eflective when applied to fenders ranging between the widths of the tenders shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

As previously pointed out, the holder 5 is adapted to support a suitable mud guard flap or apron 6 between the flanges 3, and insofar as the present invention is concerned, this flap 6 may be of any desired form or material.

In Fig. l a portion of the flap 6 is shown as providing a loop 13 through which the spring 9 may be passed before attaching the clips 7 and levers 8, 8 thereto, although it is obvious that the flap 6 can be attached after the assembly of the holder parts.

From the foregoing it is apparent that by the present invention there is provided an extremely simple and eflective holder for splash guards that is universal in its application to vehicle fenders of many different widths, without requiring any predetermined adj ustment and without requiring the use of any tools whatsoever in attaching the holder to or removing it from a fender.

I claim, 1. The combination with a vehicle fender having spaced downwardly extending flanges, of a holder for supporting a guard or flap from said fender, comprising a pair of clips each adapted to embrace a tender flange and each providing a projecting lever and means for exerting a force tending to turn said levers in opposite directions to engage said flanges.

/ 2. The combination with a vehicle fender having spaced downwardly extending flanges, of a holder for supporting a guard or flap from said fender, comprising a pair of clips each adapted to embrace a tender flange and each providing a projecting lever and an I extensible resilient member shorter than the 7 distance between said flanges adapted by its extension to exert a pull away from each fender flange and thereby turn said levers into clamping engagement with said flanges.

3. The combination with a vehicle fender having spaced downwardly extending flanges of a holder for supporting a guard or flap from said fender, comprislng a pair of clips each adapted to embrace a tender flange and each providing a projecting lever and a spring connected at its ends to said levers to maintain them in clamping engagement with said flanges.

WALTER R. CHESLEY. 

